Alarm device



y 5, 1964 M. c. STEBBINS 3,131,669

ALARM DEVICE Filed April 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INVENTOR.

' MARK C. Srsaems .ATTORNEY5 May 5, 1964 M. c. STEBBINS ALARM DEVICE 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1962 INVENTOR. MARK C Sreesms BY M fwdATTORNEYS y 5, 1964 M. c. STEBBINS 3,131,669

ALARM DEVICE Filed April 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG 6 $2 98 FIG. I0

94 y FIG. II

V I I00 110 @HLH INVENTOR. MARK C. Srsssm M, KM 9- ATTORNEYS 3,131,669ALARM DEVICE Mari: C. Stehhins, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Mm'k C.tehhins and Sons, Inc, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan FiledApr. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 186,184 11 Claims. (Cl. 116-91) The alarm deviceof this invention is particularly adapted for use on doors in buildingswhich are frequented by the public such as large stores, theaters, andpublic institutions. Most exterior doors in such buildings are providedwith latches which are operated by depressopen the door.

A device of this general type is disclosed in my copending applicationSerial No. 15,945 filed March 18, 1960, and entitled Alarm Device, nowUS. Patent No. 3,038,436. A characteristic of that device is that it canbe set selectively by means of a key-operated lock at an Off ornon-operating position and an On position. Once the alarm is actuated,it cannot be turned off or reset except by removing the device from itsmount to gain access to the works contained in the outer housing.Accordingly, the lock has a third position in which the device can beremoved from its mount. These devices have proven effective andcommercially successful.

The object of the present invention is to provide a structure of thisgeneral type which is relatively inexpensive and which has improved,simpler operation. More specifically, the alarm mechanism is improved sothat it is set or reset by the mere act of positioning the outer housingin place on the door and operating the lock to its On position.

Generally the invention is carried out by providing two brakes whichrestrain operation of the alarm device. The first brake is simply a leafspring which frictionally engages a shaft on the alarm device and whichis released by one end of a lever when the lock is turned to Onposition. The second brake is both a lever and a spring with itsopposite ends positioned for engaging the alarm shaft and a plunger onthe panic bar latch. In the alarm Off and unlocked positions, the secondbrake member is loosely contained so that when the housing is removed toset or reset the alarm, the second brake drops gravitationally into aposition where its lower end engages the latch plunger.

When the lock is turned to On position, the brake lever, while releasingthe first brake, distorts a lower portion of the second brake element sothat its lower end is spring urged against the plunger and its upper endis levered into frictional engagement with the alarm shaft. Then uponoperation of the latch and consequent retract ing of the plunger, thesecond brake element springs to a released position freeing the alarmfor operation.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a door having a latch operated by apanic bar with an alarm according to this invention mounted above thelatch.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view on line 22 of FIG. 1 with parts broken awayand shown in phantom.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the lower end ofthe alarm housing.

United States Patent motor shaft for winding the spring motor.

FIG. 4 is a view on line 44 of FIG. 2 illustrating the contents of thealarm housing and portions of the panic bar latch mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tailpiece on the housinglock.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary right-hand side View of FIG. 4 with parts brokenaway and showing the alarm device locked on the door but in conditionfor actuation.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are fragmentary views similar to FIG. 4 showing thetailpiece in different positions.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary partially sectional view illustratingthe condition of the parts after the alarm has been released foroperation.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the alarm Offposition of the parts.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a door 26 hinged for swinging in a door frame 22 andhaving a conventional latch mechanism 24 operated by depressing aconventional panic bar 26. An alarm device 23 according to thisinvention is mounted in conjunction with latch mechanism 24. The latchmechanism is modified by providing an opening in the top of its outercasing 30 and by projecting a plunger 32 through the opening. Theplunger is operably connected to the latch mechanism by suitable meansincluding a link 34 which is pulled downwardly when the panic bar isdepressed, this link being connected to a collar 36 anchored on plunger32. When the panic bar is released, a spring 38 compressed against thecollar returns the plunger upwardly.

Plunger 32 passes slidably through a hollow stud 40 threaded into thecasing opening and its upper end 42 projects above a head 44 on thestud. Head 4-4 is utilized as an anchor to secure the alarm mechanism onthe door as will appear more in detail below.

Alarm device 28 includes an outer housing 46 within which is mounted analarm-transmitting mechanism such as a bell or siren generally indicatedat 48 which is driven by a spring-type motor 5% through gearing (FIG. 2)operably connected to a shaft 52 on the siren having a head 54 exposedwithin the housing. A key represented at 56 is provided for engaging aslot 58 in the spring Key 56 is held at stored position within housing46 by a leaf spring 60.

The doorward side 62 of housing 46 is open to expose the parts containedtherein when the housing is removed from the door. An anchor plate 64 isfastened to the upper rearward or doorward side of the housing. Theanchor plate has a pair of slots 66 slidably engageable over headedscrews 68 or the like on the door for securing the upper end of thehousing in place. A key-operated lock 70 is provided adjacent the bottomof housing 46. This lock has a tailpiece '72 which is rotatable in ahollow interior portion 74 of casing as for setting the alarm device atan On position and an Off position and for cooperating with stud 4% toreleasably anchor the lower end of housing 6 in position on the door.

The bottom wall 76 of housing 46 is provided with a slot 78 whichextends from the doorward side 62 of the housing toward the front wall36. This slot is positioned and oriented so that when anchor slots 66are engaged over screws 68 the lower end of the housing can be movedagainst the door with slot 78 passing over stud 4d.

Tailpiece '72 is hollow and has an axial slot 32 which can be passedover stud 40 when the tailpiece is in unlocked position. Slot 82 opensinto two circumferential branches 84 and he facilitating rotation of thetailpiece respectively to an alarm Off and an alarm On or set position.The tailpiece also has a planar end face 88 with a protuberance 9G for apurpose to be described.

Mounted on siren housing 92 (FIG. 10) is a leaf spring 94 having an endportion 96 positioned for engaging 69 the under face 98 of shaft head54. This provides a frictional brake preventing operation of the sirenin the Off position of the alarm device. A U-shaped bracket 1430 is alsomounted on siren housing 92 such means as a rivet 192 passing throughits base 104 (FIG. 10). This rivet can also be used for anchoring leafspring 94 in place as shown. The bracket has two legs 1% and 108supporting a pin 110 which provides a pivot passing through the legs 113of a U-shaped brake operating lever 112. The lever has an upper endportion 114 engaged with leaf spring 24 and a lower end portion 116engaged with tailpiece face 853 and protuberance 90 respectively in Offand On positions of the alarm.

A second brake is provided for restraining operation of the alarm whentailpiece '72 is in the alarm-On position with brake spring 94 released.This second brake comprises a strap 118 of resiliently fiexible metalhaving an upper end portion 126 engageable against the outer face 122 ofsiren shaft 54 and a lower end portion 124 which projects into thehollow interior of tailpiece 72. This end portion is provided with afinger 126 which projects toward the rearward or doorward side of thealarm for engagement against a side 128 of plunger 42 (FIG. 6).

Strap 118 has an intermediate portion 136 which is loosely containedbeneath pivot 11% and between legs 113 of U-shaped lever 112. A part 132of this intermediate portion is sloped for camming engagement with pivotpin 110 so that when the strap moves vertically downwardly it is shiftedto the right as FIGS. 6 and 10 are viewed to bring upper end 126 intocontact with shaft face 122. The strap has another sloped intermediateportion 134 for engagement by lower end portion 116 of lever 112 for apurpose to be described.

In use it may be assumed that spring motor 58 has been wound up by theuse of key 56 and key 56 is stored under spring retainer 6%. Lock 7%) isoperated by a key K to open position (FIG. 3). In this position slot 82in tailpiece 72 is aligned with housing slot 73. Projection on thetailpiece is displaced from lever end 116 (FIG. 8) and lever end 116engages flat face 88 of the tailpiece permitting upper end 96 of brakespring 94 to engage face 98 of shaft head 54 for frictionallyrestraining operation of siren 48 (FIG. 11). Spring 94 holds lower end116 of lever 112 in a counterclockwise retracted position relative tospring 118 so that the latter remains freely movable.

To mount the alarm device, slots 66 in the upper anchor plate 64 arehooked over screws 63. The lower end of the alarm device is heldoutwardly to the dotted line position of FIG. 2 during this procedure sothat slots 73 and 82 will clear stud head 44. Since brake strap 18 isloosely contained, it drops gravitationally downwardly. At this timeupper end 1211 of the brake strap is lightly en aged against shaft face122.

The lower end of the siren housing is then swung toward the door so thatits rearward side is engaged against the door. Durin this step, housingslot 73 and tailpiece slot 32 pass around stud 40 with head 44 on thestud entering the hollow interior of the tailpiece; finger 126 isbrought to a position adjacent side 1128 of plunger end 42 asrepresented in broken lines in FIG. and may lightly engage the plunger.

The key is now turned either to the alarm Off position or the alarm Onposition as desired, and in either case tailpiece slot 82 rotates out ofalignment with housing slot 78 thereby anchoring tie alarm deviceagainst movement away from the door and against movement upwardly awayfrom latch housing 30. In the Off position illustrated in FIG. 9,protuberance 90 is disengaged from lower end 116 of the brake lever sothat upper end 96 of brake spring 94 restrains operation of the siren.In this position latch mechanism 24 can be operated repeatedly withoutdisturbing any of the parts in housing Finger 126 on brake spring 118remains in the dotted line position of FIG. 10 while plunger 40 moves upand down incidental to operation of the latch.

To set the alarm for actuation, key K is turned to the On position (FIG.3) which rotates protuberance 90 on the tailpiece to connect lower end116 of the brake release lever 112. The lever is thereby rockedclockwise as FIG. 10 is viewed and upper end 114 of the lever forcesspring end 96 away from brake surface 98. At the same time lower end 116of the lever engages cam portion 134 of brake spring 118. Lower end 124of the brake spring is restrained against outward movement by engagementof finger 126 with side 128 of plunger end 42. However, portions of thespring between pivot 110 and finger 126 are flexed to the left as FIG.10 is viewed and pin 11% acts as a fulcrum about which upper end 120 ofthe spring is swung clockwise into braking engagement against shaftsurface 122. Thus the alarm device is restrained against operation eventhough brake spring 94 is released from shaft head 54. The parts are nowin the position illustrated in FIG. 6.

If latch 24 is now operated by depressing bar 26, plunger 42 disengagesfinger 126 and spring 118 snaps to its unstressed condition releasingupper end 120 from brake surface 122. This frees siren 48 for operation.When the panic bar is released and plunger 42 returns upwardly, itmerely engages finger 126 and shifts the entire brake spring upwardlysince the brake spring is again loosely contained by pin 110 and leversides 113. The alarm continues to operate.

The alarm cannot be turned off except by a person having a key whichwill operate lock 70 for turning tailpiece 72 to disengage protuberance90 from lever end 116. When this is done lever 112 is freed for rockingand spring end 96 returns to braking engagement with shaft face 98.Strap 113 is also freed so that it can drop down for reengagement offinger 126 with plunger 42.

To reset the alarm, lock 70 is operated by key K to manipulate tailpiece72 to the FIG. 8 position in which tailpiece slot 82 is aligned withhousing slot 78. The bottom end of the alarm device can then be swung tothe dotted line position of FIG. 2 and slots 66 disengaged upwardly fromscrews 68. The alarm can then be rewound and reinstalled in position inthe manner described. In reinstalling the alarm, brake spring 1118 againdrops downwardly so that it automatically becomes positioned forreengaging plunger end 42 as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 10. Thealarm can then be manipulated to the Off or On position as desired inthe manner described.

I claim:

1. An alarm adapted for use in conjunction with a door or the like andan associated latch having a latchoperated plunger, said alarmcomprising, an alarm-transmitting device in a housing adapted to bemounted on a door, lock means releasably locking said housing in placeand in locked condition being manipulable selectively to Off and Onpositions, means forming a first brake in said housing spring biased toprovide first restraint to operation of said device in Off position ofsaid lock means, means forming a second brake having a brake element andanother element positioned for engagement with a latch plunger in saidhousing, brake-operated means operable responsive to manipulation ofsaid lock means to said On position to release said first brake andactuate said second brake, said brake element being operative inactuated condition of said second brake to provide second restraint tooperation of said device and said other element in said actuatedcondition, by engagement with the latch plunger, providing a reactionfor said second restraint, said second restraint being releasableresponsive to disengagement of said plunger and other element incidentalto operation of the latch whereby to free said device for operation,said other element being operably free of the influence of returnmovement of said plunger so that said second restraint remains released,said first brake being re-engageable responsive to manipulation of saidlock means from said On position,

2. The combination defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidelements are loosely supported by means within said housing tofacilitate return thereof to their respective positions for providingsaid second restraint and engaging said plunger.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said brake-operating meansand first brake are returned by said spring-bias to provide said firstrestraint responsive to said manipulation of lock means from said Onposition.

4. An alarm adapted for use in conjunction with a door or the like andan associated latch having a latchoperated plunger, said alarmcomprising, an alarm-transmitting device in a housing adapted to bemounted on a door, lock means releasably locking said housing in placeand in locked condition being manipulable selectively to Oh and Onpositions, means forming a first brake in said housing spring biased toprovide first restraint to operation of said device in Off position ofsaid lock means, means including a resiliently distortable mem berforming a second brake, said member having end portions which providerespectively a brake element and another element positioned forengagement with a latch plunger in said housing, means providing afulcrum engaging an intermediate portion of said member, brakeoperatingmeans operable responsive to manipulation of said lock means to said Onposition to release said first brake and engage said member between saidfulcrum and one of said end portions to stress said member, said brakeelement being operative under the influence of said stress to providesecond restraint to operation of said device and said other element byengagement with the latch plunger providing a reaction thereto, saidsecond restraint being releasable responsive to disengagement of saidplunger and other element incidental to operation of the latch wherebyto free said device for operation, said member being operably free ofthe influence of return movement of said plunger so that said secondrestraint remains released, said first brake being re-engageableresponsive to manipulation of said lock means from said On position.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said resilientlydistortable member is loosely contained in a generally vertical attitudein said housing, said member having a sloped intermediate portionproviding a cam interengageable with said fulcrum for returning saidelements to their respective positions gravitationally when said elementis freed from the influence of said plunger.

6. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said brake-operating meanscomprises a lever having one end portion operable under the influence ofsaid lock means to release said first brake, the other end portion ofsaid lever being operable under the influence of said lock means toengage said member.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said brake-operating leverhas a pivot, said pivot providing said fulcrum for said brake member.

8. An alarm adapted for use in conjunction with a door or the like andan associated latch having a latchoperated plunger, said alarm comprisng, an alarm-transmitting device in a housing adapted to be mounted on adoor, lock means releasably locking said housing in place and in lockedcondition being manipulable selectively to Off and On positions, a leafspring in said housing providing a first brake biased to restrainoperation of said device, a brake operating lever in said housing whichwith its fulcrum loosely supports a resiliently distortable element in avertical direction, one end of said member in downward position thereofbeing positioned for engaging a plunger in said housing and the otherend of said member being positioned for applying second restraint tooperation of said device, said lever being rockable responsive tomanipulation of said lock means to said On position, one end of saidlever responsive to said rocking engaging said leaf spring for freeingsaid restraint and the other end of said lever simultaneously engagingsaid region between said fulcrum and one end to lever said other end forapplying said second restraint and stressing said member so that saidone end provides a reaction against said second restraint, said secondrestraint being releasable responsive to disengagement of said one endof said member and said plunger whereby to free said device foroperation, said member being operably free of the influence of returnmovement of said plunger whereby said second restraint remains free,said lever being rockable in a return direction under the action of saidleaf spring responsive to manipulation of said lock means from said Onposition whereby to re-apply said first restraint, said member having asloped portion providing a cam interengagea'ole with said fulcrum toreturn said end portions thereof gravitationally to their respectiveoperative positions when said member is free of the influence of saidlever and plunger.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said lock means includes atailpiece rotatable within said housing, said tailpiece having a faceengaged by said other end of said operating lever in Off positions ofsaid alarm, said face having a protuberance which engages said other endportion of said lever to rock the same for operating said first andsecond brakes in the manner described.

10. An alarm adapted for use in conjunction with a door or the like andan associated latch having a latchoperated plunger, said alarmcomprising, an alarm-transmitting device in a housing adapted to bemounted on a door, a lock having a tailpiece rotatable within saidhousing for releasably locking said housing in place, said tailpiece inlocked condition being rotatable selectively to Off and On positions ofsaid alarm, said tailpiece having a hollow interior adapted to receivesaid plunger, means forming a first brake in said housing spring biasedto provide first restraint to operation of said device in Off positionof said lock means, means forming a second brake having a brake elementand another element projecting into said tailpiece interior forengagement with a latch plunger therein, brake-operating means operableresponsive to rotation of said lock means to said On position to releasesaid first brake and actuate said second brake, said brake element beingoperative in actuated condition of said second brake to provide secondrestraint to operation of said device and said other element in saidactuated condition, by engagement with the latch plunger, providing areaction for said second restraint, said second restraint beingreleasable responsive to disengagement of said plunger and other elementincidental to operation of the latch whereby to free said device foroperation, said other element being operably free of the influence ofreturn movement of said plunger so that said second restraint remainsreleased, said first brake being re-engageable responsive to rotation ofsaid tailpiece from said On position.

11. The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said housing has a slotextending away from the door for re ceiving an anchor means associatedwith the door, said tailpiece having an axial slot which in saidunlocked position is generally parallel with said housing slot forreceiving a plunger, said tailpiece slot having circumferential branchesfacilitating turning of said tailpiece selectively to said On and Offpositions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS3,038,436 Stebbins June 12, 1962

1. AN ALARM ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A DOOR OR THE LIKE ANDAN ASSOCIATED LATCH HAVING A LATCHOPERATED PLUNGER, SAID ALARMCOMPRISING, AN ALARM-TRANSMITTING DEVICE IN A HOUSING ADAPTED TO BEMOUNTED ON A DOOR, LOCK MEANS RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID HOUSING IN PLACEAND IN LOCKED CONDITION BEING MANIPULABLE SELECTIVELY TO OFF AND ONPOSITIONS, MEANS FORMING A FIRST BRAKE IN SAID HOUSING SPRING BIASED TOPROVIDE FIRST RESTRAINT TO OPERATION OF SAID DEVICE IN OFF POSITION OFSAID LOCK MEANS, MEANS FORMING A SECOND BRAKE HAVING A BRAKE ELEMENT ANDANOTHER ELEMENT POSITIONED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A LATCH PLUNGER IN SAIDHOUSING, BRAKE-OPERATED MEANS OPERABLE RESPONSIVE TO MANIPULATION OFSAID LOCK MEANS TO SAID ON POSITION TO RELEASE SAID FIRST BRAKE ANDACTUATE